The Chicago Fire lost two games last week, but were still was able to clinch their second straight berth into the MLS playoffs.
After the Fire’s 1-0 loss at New England on Oct. 17, they found out that with D.C. losing, they made the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since doing it three straight seasons from 2007-2009.
But Fire coach Gregg Berhalter wasn’t all that happy.
“We’re not celebrating,” Berhalter said. “If you go inside that locker room, they are not celebrating. We are disappointed that we lost the game.”
Earlier in the week, Maren Haile-Selassie scored in his third game in a row but the Fire lost 3-1 on Oct. 14 to Philadelphia at Soldier Field.
The Fire (14-10-6) will try to get back on the winning track when they visit Atlanta at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 in MLS play.
Baseball honors
Brother Rice graduate Michael Massey was named a finalist for the American League Gold Glove award at second base.
The Kansas City Royals infielder won a Gold Glove in the minor leagues in 2021.
The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association named Brother Rice’s Brady Cunningham its Class 4A Player of the Year and Nazareth’s Landon Thome the 3A Player of the Year.
St. Rita’s John Nee was named the Class 3A Coach of the Year and former Chicago Christian coach Eric Brauer was named to the organization’s Hall of Fame.
Chavez, McCall race to Red titles
Senior Santiago Chavez of Reavis won the South Suburban Red individual cross country championship on Oct. 17 in Burbank with a time of 15 minutes, 35.6 seconds.
Richards won the team title with 35 points, and with senior James O’Shea (second, 16:08.5) leading the way.
In the girls race, Shepard’s Peyton McCall won with a 20:57.6.
Reavis was the team champ with 40 points as senior Itzel Ramirez finished second with a 21:19.0.
SXU wins, CSU loses
St. Xavier’s only shot to make the NAIA football playoffs is to win its conference.
The Cougars took the first step when they opened the Mid-States Football Association Midwest division season with a 30-0 road victory on Oct. 17 over St. Mary-of-the-Woods, scoring all of their points in the first half. Mount Carmel grad Blainey Dowling threw for 180 yards and Andrew graduate Dominic D’Ambrosio ran for two scores.
SXU (3-4, 1-0) hosts St. Francis of Joliet (2-5, 1-0) at noon Oct. 24 at Deaton Field.
Evergreen Park grad Arshawn Powell had six catches for 57 yards, but Chicago State dropped its fourth game in a row, 27-12 at North Carolina A&T Oct. 17.
The Cougars (1-6) visit Lindenwood at 2 p.m. Oct. 24.
Andrew on its own
The IHSA approved a modification to the District 230 girls coop wrestling team. Andrew has enough athletes and will field its own team, while Stagg and Sandburg will continue to partner.